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(Snowballing My Way to the London Stage)

“Good Morning London!”

My words boomed through the Westminster Chapel in London, bouncing off the eardrums of nearly 100 women, including my own daughter’s.

“I flew all the way here to tell you about the fastest and easiest way to wealth-

Buying.

An existing.

Profitable.

Business.”

I paused after every word for a dramatic effect. I killed it. It was just a one-minute introduction, an invitation to my panel discussion later that afternoon, but I commanded everyone’s attention. That was my minute and I owned it. What a powerful moment for me, and my baby girl witnessed it all.

But how did it happen? How the hell did I go from fussing over the ever-elusive blackberry jam as a Cracker Barrel waitress, to speaking on an international stage, leopard pants and all?

I built a snowball.

One flake at a time.

Nothing meaningful appears out of thin air. Success isn’t one big event. It’s about tons of tiny little baby steps. A single snowflake, then another and another. Each one building upon the next, slowly rolling downhill, the snowball getting bigger and bigger. The momentum becoming more and more powerful. Until pow! You’re an “overnight sensation”, or so it appears to the ones that don’t have the guts to even start.

Putting yourself on the path, even when you can’t see what’s around the next bend, let alone the final destination. (You probably don’t even know exactly where you’re headed at first.) Yet you face that new direction, fists curled, head held high. Not because you’re confident. You’re probably shaking in your boots at this point, but your head is high out of determination, grit, knowing you have no idea how to accomplish this thing, but you’re damn sure going to figure it out!

Next, you’re researching and googling and trying to get a grasp on just the basics. You mention your big idea to your closest friends. Support! You start to search out to professionals in the arena. You ask questions, share your evolving vision. They make suggestions and connect you to others.

You’re still a total newb but those individual flakes are starting to form a ball. You’re getting fired up and gaining some confidence. You’re talking to more people, solidifying the plan, gaining knowledge. You’re networking and meeting new people who introduce you to more people, more connections. You’re making progress, achieving the first steps, even helping others along the way. You do what you say you’re going to do, building trust in your ever-expanding network. You’re saying yes to every exciting opportunity, telling that little twinge of fear bouncing around in your belly to “Hush! We’ll figure it out!” The opportunities keep getting bigger, just like your snowball, and more exciting. You never dreamed this could really be your life!

But it can.

It’s all about the connections. And saying yes. Doing it scared, but still doing it. No, not fancy stuff like “my people will get with your people” connections. But meeting people, helping people, and sharing what you’re working on, what you’re trying to accomplish.

For me, it went like this…

When I still had my CPA firm, I was becoming more and more fascinated by the world of small business buying and selling. I had bought my firm, then we bought the pizza pub. Later, I bought out my firm partner. I had also been helping clients sell their businesses. I knew this was the next fork in my own road, the next way to use my CPA expertise.

Almost three years ago, I went to an M&A conference in LA. My first taste of the smorgasbord of buying and selling businesses. I met new people, from all over the world, including the UK. I joined their main community, and their sub-community of women interested in buying businesses.

We met over Zoom. I showed up and participated, supported. I shared my desire to create educational material to help others buy businesses; this newsletter was born. I stayed consistent with it, while also posting on social media, spreading the love for acquisition entrepreneurship.

A friend from that community was meant to be a part of the collaborative book project we just published, not me. This wasn’t originally “my” opportunity, but then my friend couldn’t make it happen with her other commitments. She knew I had been creating good content, and that I enjoy writing, so she suggested to the coordinator and co-author of the project that I take the spot. That fear monster in my belly made one little peep, but I quickly told it to shut the fuck up and said yes!

The book got published, thank you Kylie Anderson, and I’m chapter 2!

Then it turned into an event. And since this was a British project, I’m the only American involved, I had the opportunity to go to London for the big launch event. I’m honored to have spoken on stage and to have been part of a panel discussion on business building and branding.

It just keeps snowballing into more and more opportunities.

There may even be another foreign stage in my near future!

Not bad for a small-town waitress from corn country Indiana.

When I tell you that one of the first steps in buying a business is to let the universe know your intentions, that probably sounds pretty woo-woo, especially coming from an accountant. But I mean it! And I practice it. I’m living proof that this stuff is legit.

I’m not suggesting you start bragging about how you’re going to be a billionaire by next year, or you’re going to be the next Richard Branson, owning multiple companies in a wide variety of sectors. Be sincere. Be vulnerable. Let people know it’s a work in progress and you don’t have it all figured out, yet.

Shocker: People want to help you. People feel good when they can connect you to other helpful people. Have you ever looked for a plumber or a baker, or anything on FB? As I was preparing to leave for London, I asked the wise wizards of Facebook Land for must dos and must sees while I’m there. That post has 50 comments. People want to help. Period.

Now go tell someone what you’re working on! Connect with someone that you can help. Say yes and do it scared!

I’ll even get you started. If you’re sincere about buying your first business, tell me.

The first five people to respond to this email will get a free consultation to start their own business buying snowball.

Go Buy a Business!